A new prototype packaging system developed by packaging manufacturer Alpla promises a reduction in carbon emissions by 71 percent compared to conventional HDPE, the company has said. Called Canupak, it is an ultralight, 100 percent recyclable bottle weighing in total just 14 grams and specifically targeted at the beauty care sector
The recycled HDPE used to produce the bottle is sourced in full from the company’s own plants in the EU and produced exclusively using renewable energies. The project is aligned with the company’s aim to reduce emissions gradually and to expand its expertise in regards to sustainability across the board, from ‘processes, from design and production through to logistics’. “The carbon-optimised Canupak is the next milestone on the path to the sustainable packaging of the future,” said Karina Pölzl, Innovation Project Manager at ALPLA.
The carbon footprint of the prototype packaging was calculated in cooperation with ClimatePartner and encompasses all the emissions throughout a product’s life cycle, including its disposal.
According to Alpla, no clear standards currently exist for climate-neutral products and offsetting certificates, and ALPLA is therefore focusing on reducing emissions within its own sphere of influence, by focussing on further product optimisation and on achieving maximum recyclability based on design for recycling.
“There is increasing demand for sustainable products – among our customers as well as the end consumers. Carbon-optimised packaging has a key part to play here,” added Alpla CEO Philipp Lehner.
Next to undertaking projects in the carbon-optimised packaging space, the company is also investing in sustainable projects, renewable energy and the circular economy. Alpla’s packaging will be fully recyclable by 2025, with post-consumer recycled material accounting for 25 percent of the materials processed, the company said, and it is investing €50m a year in recycling activities to this end. It has also started minimising necessary transport by setting up in-house plants directly at the customers’ premises.